Panda Breading Center in Chengdu

The first thing that we did in Chengdu was to go to the Panda breading center. It was a beautiful facility. We learned lots about Pandas (as would be expected!). There are about 1200 Pandas in the world. About 300 in captivity. There is a Panda Reserve about 5 hours from Chengdu at a much higher elevation. I am wondering if that is were most of the 900 other ones are. (forgot to ask). I can't imagine that there are many wild ones as it doesn't seem like they would last too long these days. Pandas have a tuff time reproducing in captivity as we have all heard.But it seems like the big barrier is that they are only in "heat" for one week a year. Which cuts the odds down pretty drastically for getting pregnant. So most of the work at the breading facility is artificial insemination. Which apparently works pretty well. If you are willing to pay for it...and the Chinese are.
It was a little disappointing when we were there as there were no new born baby pandas to see and it was sooooooo hot that all of the Pandas were inside in the air conditioning. Where as the outside Panda habitat was huge and full of plants and climbing things the inside area was a cage with a cement floor. Not too nice, but it was very air conditioned and the Pandas were frolicking around and eating lots of Arrow bamboo, the only kind that they eat. A fun Panda fact is that they can only digest 2% of the bamboo that they eat, so they have to pretty much eat all day long, and consequently what they poop out is almost the same as what they put in.
Cool. The top photo is of the "Red Panda" It is not as endangered as the Giant Panda, and apparently likes warm weather. August took the shots and wished that he could live closer to the Pandas.